The Hindu : New Delhi News : Wheat sowing declines

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Wheat sowing declines

NEW DELHI, JAN. 25. Wheat sowing has gone done marginally by 0.44 per cent during current rabi season to 260.86 lakh hectare as against 262.01 lakh hectare last year.

There is some shortfall in the coverage under wheat in Punjab and Haryana which could be due to diversion of land to gram, rapeseed and mustard and other crops, according to the latest official updates on rabi sowing season.

The sowing of wheat is complete in all the States except Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, it said.

However, sowing of rabi rice has started everywhere except in Bihar where seed-bed preparation is in progress. Rabi rice is reported to have been sown in 14.88 lakh hectare as compared to 14.91 lakh hectare last year, a 0.2 per cent decline.

Rabi oilseeds have been sown in more than the acreage in last two years. This is because of more area under rapeseed and mustard (68.1 lakh hectare as compared to 59.24 lakh hectare last year), and sunflower (3.79 lakh hectare compared to 3.58 lakh hectare last year).

However, less area is reported under groundnut (6.73 lakh hectare against 7.12 lakh hectare last year) and sunflower (12.45 lakh hectare versus last year's 13.35 lakh hectare).

PTI

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